Classic Italian Puttanesca Sauce
A classic Italian puttanesca sauce is quite possibly the most delicious sauce you will ever have! 🙂
Typically it’s quite tangy, salty and can be as spicy as you want it to be. Traditional ingredients MUST have tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, capers and olives. From there you can add your own spin on it.
I’m full blooded Italian and grew up eating it with anchovies, which I promise you won’t even notice are in there, and definitely some heat and spice. But in my recipe I made the anchovies and red pepper optional and added a few extra ingredients of my own!
This recipe is an adaption from my Sugar-Free Tomato, Artichoke, Kalamata Olive sauce and needed some updated photos as well.
You can seriously just add this sauce to anything! Toss it with spaghetti and enjoy it just like that. Top in on fish or chicken and it’s a hearty, filling meal! It’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a meatless Monday meal.
This above is over my left overs from my chicken piccata recipe and it was divine!
Classic Italian Puttanesca Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 shallot sliced
- 2 14.5 ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives pitted, sliced
- 1/4 cup green pimento olives slices
- 1 cup black olives drained, sliced
- 1 tablespoon capers drained
- 1 cup marinated artichokes drained, chopped
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasonings
- salt and pepper to taste
- optional: crushed red pepper flakes canned anchovies, (undrained, chopped)
- Toppings: fresh parsley grated Parmesan cheese.
Instructions
- Heat oil in a saute pan over medium high heat and add shallots and garlic.
- Once slightly browned, add all other ingredients to the pan.
- Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Makes 4 cups.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach, and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & refined-carb free for 20 years and is the author of four cookbooks: Sugar-Free Mom, Naturally Keto, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, and her newest release, Good, Better, Best (2025). Her work focuses on helping women detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar, and lose weight while enjoying delicious, nutrient-dense whole foods. Brenda is also the creator of the Midlife Macro™ Method and the weekly Midlife Macro Meal Plans™, designed specifically for women in perimenopause and menopause who want simple, high-protein, low-carb meals to support hormones, metabolism, and long-term health.She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and the Sugar Free Mom Tribe membership.
That sounds really good.. When I was a kid, I really didnt like anchovies or capers.. but as an adult, I’ve found they add that extra YUM to whatever they’re in.. I’ve grown up and so have my taste buds! 😉